Sakura wiped the sweat from her forehead and upper lip as she aimed at the wooden post with her shuriken and threw. She asked herself why she was out at eleven in the morning, in this unbearable heat, training. She was glad, at least, that she'd chosen to wear minimal clothing and that she'd had the foresight to drown herself in sunscreen before she left her apartment.

She'd been working her ass off at the training grounds for two hours now and was just about ready to leave when she heard the faint sound of footsteps behind her. She knew it wasn't an enemy- well, not a life-threatening one at least. She could tell by the masked chakra and by the deliberate lightness of their footfalls, they were looking for a fight.

She could also tell by the overpowering smell of cinnamon that it was Kakashi.

She kept her back to him, forcing herself to stay calm and not give away any signs of the anxiety swimming in her stomach. Her hand, the one that had just thrown three shuriken at the wooden post and hit her mark perfectly, moved to her pouch to prepare herself while the other inched toward the kunai pouch at her hip.

She let out a tiny groan as she tilted her neck to one side and then the other, satisfied with the pop of joints and stretch of muscles. Then, without warning she spun around, assaulting him with a barrage of shuriken.

Sakura wasn't stupid. She knew he wasn't slow enough to get hit by her attack, which was why she pivoted on her back foot almost immediately after, coming face to face with an unmasked and grinning Kakashi.

This close, Sakura could see his face, void of imperfections save for the small chip in one of his canines and scar across his left eye. She wished she could see him like this more often, his fully exposed face was a sight that would have all the girls in Konoha kissing his feet, and maybe some guys too.

Kakashi gripped her wrists and held them at arm's length. "I thought we were meeting at twelve?" Sakura asked.

Kakashi didn't want to let Sakura know that he didn't listen to a single word that came out of her mouth yesterday when they- well, more like she planned to meet. Instead, Kakashi shrugged one shoulder, "Actually, I'm waiting for Naruto." He cocked his head to the side and smiled at her lopsidedly, "Quick attack, by the way, someone's taught you well."

Inside, Sakura beamed. Her stomach fluttered at the approval her ex-sensei and team leader had given her, she couldn't remember the last time he did it. But then again, the last time he'd cared enough to watch her fight was when she was 12.

And she wasn't that great when she was 12.

Sakura didn't let her giddiness reach the surface; instead she shot him a cool grin, "Yeah. Tsunade's a great teacher."

Slowly, Kakashi's smug grin dropped and Sakura had to bite her tongue to keep from smirking at him. His narrowed mismatched eyes stared at her with an unfamiliar emotion, "Tsunade, hm?"

Sakura knew that overlooking his teachings and openly appreciating Tsunade's would strike a nerve and she didn't bother to hide her grin as his fingers tightened around her wrists. "Yep. Tsunade."

Kakashi dropped one of her wrists to aim a blow to his ex-student, his knuckles grazing Sakura's chin. Idiot, Sakura mentally berated herself when she saw his right knee lift slightly; indicating that his first swing was only a feint. The knee to her stomach doubled her over, forcing all the air from her lungs.

Sakura jumped back and glared at the smug man, her brow knitting into a tight frown. "Did Tsunade teach you how to dodge too?" He smirked, lowering into a crouch, "Taijutsu match? Let's see how well she's taught you, Sakura."

This was more like it! Sakura thought as she lowered herself into a crouch of her own. She never would've felt satisfied with herself if she kicked Kakashi's ass when he was holding back. Riling him up is the only way to unleash his full strength, and he confidently lifted up his hitai-ate to reveal the red Sharingan eye that she's only seen a handful of times in her life.

Sakura took a few lurching steps forward, and on the fourth step, she swung. Kakashi's Sharingan saw through her attack, allowing him to gain enough time to duck under her arm. Before Sakura could even register the dodge, which she was soon to regret, Kakashi delivered a fist to her torso, sending fresh ripples of pain through her middle.

She didn't fall, she made absolute sure of that, and instead used the very small fraction of time he used to maneuver out of arms length to leap away from his still crouched form. The blow was a lot closer than she would've liked, but she was just getting started. She couldn't fail here, in front of him, after fighting for all of two minutes.

Sakura, grinning to herself, snatched out two kunai knives from her belt and flung it at her smirking, silver-haired opponent. He reached into his own pouch, withdrawing from it his own kunai, blocking the ones aimed straight for his crotch and face.

Sakura cursed under her ragged breath as she leapt back and lost her footing. Rookie mistake, Sakura. She grumbled mentally as her back hit the think trunk of one of the trees surrounding the training grounds. She was about to remove herself when a fist pounded onto the space right next to her head, she gritted her teeth and snarled, turning the other way, but was trapped with another fist.

Aggravated, she slumped against the tree and crossed her arms over her chest. Her thighs burnt from overexertion and the emphatic thump of her chest threatened to drown out the sound of birds and their deep, fragmented pants. "You cheated." Kakashi breathed, standing far enough to allow more than a few inches between her crossed arms and his chest but close enough to smell her intoxicating scent and appreciate the sensation of her warmth, no doubt intensified by the unbearable summer heat that surrounded them.

Sakura's heart beat faster, and it wasn't because of the exercise. Kakashi was so close. So, so close. All she really needed to do was push off the tree and lean forward and they would be chest to chest. She watched his shoulders rise and fall in time with his uneven breathing, his black sleeveless shirt along with the mask attached to it was drenched in sweat. "Aren't you hot?"

Kakashi's mismatched eyes snapped to hers at her seemingly innocent question. The answer was yes. He was very hot. But the weather and exercise only played a small part in that.

It didn't help him any that there was a certain pink-haired kunoichi in front of him, clad in nothing but a short singlet that barely reached her navel and the tiniest shorts he'd ever seen. He mentally kicked himself when he saw a tiny bead of sweat slide down the smooth, alabaster skin of her neck and wished that he could take her back to his apartment and make her sweat even more. "Very." He breathed.

Sakura hummed and Kakashi didn't miss the dangerous glint in her jade green eyes. Searing pain started from his now broken and bloody nose and spread all the way through is face, his head flew back and he could've sworn that his brain rattled a bit.

With a devilish grin, Sakura sped away from him and came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the training grounds. Kakashi was an excellent shinobi and was better than her in close-range combat; Sakura didn't want to be drowning in his comfort zone any longer. Kakashi had stumbled his way right where Sakura wanted him, but Kakashi –the genius and battle extraordinaire- would never do that on purpose, which Sakura failed to remember.

Sakura grunted as she slammed a chakra infused fist to the ground causing it to crack and crumble as it gave way to her strength, sending chunks of rock and dirt up into the air around her and Kakashi. Her self-satisfied grin dropped from her sweaty face as the rubble settled back onto the ground and the famed Copy Ninja was nowhere in sight.

Left, right, behind, up-

Sakura was too late and she clenched her jaw to keep herself from shouting out profanities as Kakashi's body slammed into hers from above, sending the both of them to the ground. "Damn it!" Sakura spat out, annoyance clear in her voice.

When she looked into Kakashi's eyes, a part of her told her; 'No look away! Sharingan alert! Sharingan alert!' Flashes of Sasuke, Itachi and their impending war with Madara and God only knows who else flitted through her mind, but were easily put to rest when his hitai-ate settled over it. She must've looked scared, and for that she was regretful. His eyes were beautiful, as strange and unnatural as they were, but she liked it. Even the scar that ran across his left eye should've been considered a huge flaw that spoiled his roguish good looks, but instead it only just enhanced them. It didn't spoil anything at all.

"I win."

Sakura pursed her lips as she glared at him half-heatedly. His nose was still bloody and crooked from her head butt and blood threatened to drop from the point of his nose onto her cheek. She could feel his thighs tighten at her sides as he shifted over her, straddling her heaving body. One of his arms was raised in mid-punch while his other hand was placed so close next to her face that her cheek lightly brushed his strong sweaty forearm. Intrepidly, Sakura raised her hand to his face.

Now that Kakashi was unmasked, she could see his expression clearly; shocked, but warm and welcoming of her touch. His face was flushed from the heat and their fight and his mouth twitched.

Was that a habit? Sakura thought, her gaze drifting from his uncovered eye to his pouty lips. She itched to kiss him and she wanted to hit herself over the shameful thought. He was her ex-sensei, for God's sake, not to mention her team leader and friend.

"Sakura…"

Sakura's heart sped up at the sound of his voice. It was so breathy and low that she imagined him whispering it into her ear while they lay curled up side by side in a bed they shared. Literally shaking herself out of her dirty fantasies, she pressed a finger to his cheekbone and caressed her way to the bridge of his nose. She fixated her chakra onto the breakage and laced it under his skin and muscle, pulling the bone back into place and securing it. Now, all that was left was the blood that ran from his nose down to his chin. Acting purely on human instinct, she traced her fingers down his nose and paused on his smooth lips, blushing at the warm breath she felt on her fingertips and palm. Then, she tucked her fingers under his chin and using her thumb, swiped at the blood.

Kakashi's eyes never left hers and he didn't realize how close he'd leant in until she felt her warm breath on his cheek and her fingers under his chin. Should I…? No, don't do it. He thought, his lip twitching.

Sakura, forcing herself out of her dreamy state, cleared her throat and looked away, ripping her fingers away from his face, worried that if he were to stare at her like that any longer, she'd accidentally lean in and kiss him. It's Kakashi-sensei, Sakura. Don't.

"So, the Hyuga compound?" Sakura asked in a low and croaky voice, her chest heaving.

Kakashi's eye widened and he shifted his weight onto one knee, sliding off her body. He raised a hand to tousle his hair, his well-muscled arms flexing deliciously as he did so. "12?"

Sakura nodded as she pulled herself up onto her knees and then her feet, Kakashi did the same. They avoided looking at each other, not because they felt awkward, but because they felt it too difficult to restrain themselves. "Tell Naruto that I'll see him tomorrow at Ichiraku's." Sakura said, to which Kakashi nodded.

Sakura left the training grounds and Kakashi couldn't help but watch the muscular curve of her backside and legs in those tiny black shorts. He hated the fact that she'd have to walk home in those; he didn't want anyone to try anything on her.

But that's where he stopped himself. Sakura wasn't a poor, helpless, little girl. She was a shinobi, and a damn good one at that judging by what she did to his face. Kakashi knew she could easily beat a pesky little pervert to a pulp. But he couldn't help but want to do it for her.

*.*

The Hyuga compound was just as elegant and beautiful as Sakura had imagined. She'd never been inside the walls before and though she'd fought side by side with many of the Hyuga and became friends with some, she was shocked to see so many people together with white eyes.

Sakura had long since changed into a pair of denim shorts and thin singlet and had slipped into the standard shinobi shoes. When she got home, she jumped straight into the shower, thinking about Kakashi the whole time.

Now, they sat together on the floor, Neji Hyuga sitting across from them with his eyes closed and arms crossed. "Well?"

Sakura answered before Kakashi could, which he thought was probably best, seeing as she was more familiar with the young Hyuga than he was. He frowned at the thought, glad that his mask hid his expression. Though a mask would work with Sakura, he thought wryly, it would work with this kid.

"What happened the other night? The night when Naruto became Chunin? We were told he challenged you to a fight." Sakura questioned, an eyebrow arched in curiosity.

Neji's shot Sakura a small smile, "I don't remember a lot of things from that night, and that fight with Naruto is one of them… I wasn't much better than the two of you."

Sakura cast a sidelong glance at Kakashi. Did that mean Neji saw them? "What do you remember?"

Neji looked uncomfortable for a bit, "It's not the greatest thing to remember, but it's the only thing I remember clearly. You might not like this," He snorted, "Maybe you will."

Neji sighed and uncrossed his arms to place his hands on the floor behind him. Leaning back he blew a stray strand of long brown hair away from his eyes, looking as cool and handsome as the girls at the hospital believed him to be.

Neji let out an annoyed sigh. He was not in a good mood. He was drunk, tired and couldn't find Lee.

Great, he thought darkly as he looked at the clock hanging on Kakashi's wall. It was 4.15 and Lee was still nowhere to be found. He'd already checked Kakashi's bathroom and office, but the drunken idiot was nowhere to be found. "Have you guys seen Lee?" He asked, walking into the living room.

Initially, he was slightly amused at Kiba's sour expression as he watched Naruto wrap an arm around Hinata. Kiba wasn't fond of the fact that Hinata had gone and got herself a boyfriend or whatever the blonde knucklehead was to her and found it his duty as a surrogate big brother to protect her virtue. Which she was probably going to lose soon, considering the way she blushed as Naruto whispered something in her ear.

At his question, Kiba perked up at the fact that someone was talking to him. "Nope, guys?" Kiba slurred, directing his question at the couple next to him.

Naruto reluctantly pulled away from Hinata and sighed, "What?"

"Do you know where Lee is? I searched all over." Neji leant against the wall in an attempt to reset the room that was spinning before his eyes. He groaned and held a hand up to his head. He was never good with alcohol.

"We'll help you find him." Hinata said, standing up.

Naruto groaned, "Hinata…"

"Naruto-kun, we have to find Lee! What if he does something stupid?" Hinata frowned at the boy whose tongue was down her throat only moments earlier.

Naruto pouted and ran a hand through his blonde hair, messing it up even further. "Fine."

Kiba and Akamaru were the first to leave, heading out Kakashi's front door in search of their youthful friend. Hinata followed suit, tugging on the hand of a pouting and reluctant Naruto. Neji took a step out the door and then thought about Sakura and Kakashi, whom he hadn't seen since they arrived-

Kakashi's mouth twitched again, a habit he hoped to get rid of in the future, as he met eyes with a red-faced Sakura.

-Neji wandered through the apartment again, his boot crunching on some broken glass but he hardly took notice. He pushed open the door to his right, the only room he hadn't checked for Lee and was stopped in his tracks-

Sakura let out a little squeak. Had he walked in on them… doing it?

-Neji's eyebrows shot up and he wondered for a second if what he saw were the dizzying effects of drinking a little too much tonight. But it wasn't an illusion, Kakashi and Sakura were in bed together and they were less than half naked.

They were lying on the bed, Sakura in her risqué underwear and boots and Kakashi in his briefs. Kakashi's head rested on Sakura's stomach, his lips pressed just below her navel and underneath his lips –along with all over her body- were bruises that he had enough sexual encounters to identify as hickeys. Sakura had her hands on his back and it was obvious that she was the one responsible for the red angry marks across his shoulder blades and lower back. Sakura's leg was curled around Kakashi's hip and her head was turned to the side, a faint smile on her lips.

Neji observed them for a moment, not in a perverted way, more analytical. He'd never seen the too any more intimate than just friends and now they were like this? But that's not what shocked Neji, the one thing that made his eyes widen in surprise was the fact that they were asleep.